BBC News ignores yet another case of Hamas maritime smuggling

As has been observed here on several occasions in the past, the BBC chooses not to tell its audiences in its own words why Israel placed a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2009.

Photo credit: IDF Spokesman

“… the blockade, which Israel says is a necessary security measure.” (link to source)

“Israel says the blockade aims to stop the supply of arms or other items for military use, and to put pressure on the Hamas administration.” (link to source)

“Israel tightened maritime restrictions on Gaza from 2007, leading to a blockade which it says it [sic] a vital security measure against the militant Islamist group Hamas, which administers the territory.” (link to source)

“Israel says the naval blockade is necessary to stop weapons being smuggled to militants within Gaza.” (link to source) [all emphasis added]

As has also been documented here (see ‘related articles’ below), when stories have emerged which clarify the reasons for the naval blockade’s existence, the BBC has refrained from reporting them to its audiences. Recently another case of maritime smuggling for Hamas by a Gaza Strip fisherman came to light.

“A 22-year-old Gazan fisherman was indicted Sunday in the Be’er Sheva District Court for engagement in criminal activity against Israel on behalf of Hamas. […]

According to the indictment, in 2013 activists from the Hamas military brigade of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam approached al-Saidi seeking his assistance in acquiring military and diving equipment using a boat he received from Hamas.

He later attempted to smuggle a number of weapons amounting to 200kg, according to the indictment, for $1,200. During the operation however, he was spotted near Egypt by the country’s army, prompting its soldiers to fire upon him, injuring one of his accomplices in the process.”

Once again, there has been no BBC reporting on this case – which is the third such story ignored by the BBC in the last six months alone. The corporation’s funding public could therefore be forgiven for arriving at the conclusion that the broadcaster has no intention of providing them with the kind of information which would contribute to their “awareness and understanding” of why a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip is necessary.

The BBC has consistently slanted its coverage of Israel to conform to a David vs Goliath storyline which it’s editors seem to feel is the preferred paradigm for reporting from this region. So much for journalistic objectivity and integrity.